Electrical plug and wall socket



' May 5, 1953 J. ZALDUONDO ELECTRICAL PLUG AND WALL SOCKET Filed July 10, 1950 a w 23 3 a,

2 2/ 3a 6 a I f an 7* g 70701 zazdzwm INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented May 5, 1953 UNITED STATES OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a construction for an electrical plug and socket or receptacle.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction for an electrical plug and soclcet which will be simpler than the standard units used today, and which will eliminate most of the possibility of a short circuit.

A further important object is to provide an electrical device of the type state-d which will be stronger and more durable than conventionally constructed devices having the same purpose.

Still another object is to provide a type of electrical plug and socket in which the electrical connection will be made in any position of relative rotary adjustment of the plug and socket, so that there is no necessity of aligning prongs with prong-receiving openings in the socket, as is the case with respect to conventionally formed devices.

With the foregoing and other objects in view wh ch will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawin s Fig. l is a section taken diametrically through a plug and orket formed in accordance with the invention, the cooperating portions of the device being shown inter-engaged.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the plug or male member.

Fig. 3 is a plan view or the receptacle or female member.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the ref erence numeral 5 designates. generally the sock et or receptacle or female member, molded of plastic or any other suitable non-conductive material, and in the outer face of the receptacle 5 is formed an annular groove 6 spaced closely from the outer periphery of said receptacle. Also formed in the outer face of the receptacle 5 is the centrally disposed cavity l concentric with the groove 6. In the other face of the receptacle 5 are formed the diametrically opposed recesses B and 9, and in the wall of the recess 8 is thread ed the terminal screw Ml securing the laterally extended end H of an outer prong l2 extending upwardly into the groove 6, the portion of said prong that extends into said groove being formed with an inwardly curved or concave-convex portion it. Also secured by the terminal screw ID to make an electrical contact with the end II of the prong is lead or conductor I 4 extending from the house supply or other source of electrical power.

Threaded in the Wall or" the other recess 9 is the terminal screw is securing the other house lead or conductor it to one end of the inner prong I! which like the prong I2 is molded in the body of the receptacle 5 and extends to the center cavity l projecting into said cavity ad acent the wall thereof and having its projecting portion formed with a concave-convex end I3.

Rigidly secured to the inner or bottom face of the female member or receptacle 5 is the bridge lit adapted to mount said receptacle Within an outlet box of the usual type, not shown.

The male member or plug is generally designated Fill and the Working face of this member is formed with an annular rib 2i spaced closely from the outer periphery of said plug so as to seat in the annular groove 6 of the receptacle.

The plug to is also formed with the centrally dis osed boss 22 adapted to seat in the cavity l of the female member.

Spa ed circumferentiallv of the annular rib 2! and located adjacent the inner Wall of said rib are the recesses 23 in which are secured the tongues 24, these being secured in place by a terminal screw 25 and by rivets 26 respectively. These tongues are formed integrally with an outer contact ring 21 mounted against the inner surface of the annular rib 2| and curved transversely and inw rdly toward the center of the plug.

A lead 28 extending to an electrical appliance or other device to which it is desired to supply power is secured by the terminal screw 25 in electrical contact with the o ter contact ring 21.

Spaced circumferentially of the center boss 22 are the recesses 29 in which are mounted the tongues 30 secured in place by a terminal screw 3| and by rivets 32 respectively and secured by the terminal screw 3| is the other lead 33 to the aforementioned electrical appliance. The tongues 36 are integral with an inner contact ring 34 surrounding and supported a-ainst the side Wall of the center boss 22, this being transversely curved in a direction opposite the curvature of the outer ring 21.

Referring now to the construction of the receptacle 5, as may be particularly noted from Fig. 3. mounted against the wall of the cavity 1 is a plurality of sprin clips 35 curved conformably to the curvature of the inner contact ring 34. A plurality of clips 36 are mounted against 3 the inner wall of the annular groove 6, and these are curved conformably to the curvature of the outer contact ring 21.

At this point, it may be noted that the prongs I 2 and H of the female member or receptacle 5 are of springable material so far as is concerned the curved portion of each prong projecting into the annular groove and center recess. The same is true of the clips 35 and 36 of the receptacle.

Referring now to the use of the plug and receptacle construction, I believe it will be apparent that an electrical contact is made regardless of the position of relative rotary adjustment of the male member 20 relative to the female member 5. All that is necessary is that the user press the part 20 against the working face of the receptacle 5, so as to seat the annular rib 2| in the groove 6 and the center boss 22 in the cavity 1.

As this operation is performed, the prong I8 and spring clips 35, that are curved correspondingly to the curvature of the inner contact ring 34, will engage said ring in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 1, and at the same time the oppositely curved outer contact ring 2'! will be springably engaged by the prong l2 and by the spring clips 36, that are curved correspondingly to the curvature of said outer contact ring.

Obviously, a circuit will be closed through the conductt'ng material having an annular groove opening through one side thereof and defining an axial boss for entrance into the circular recess in the first mentioned body, said mating body having a peripheral concentric groove therein defining with the annular groove thereof an annu- 4 lar fiange for entrance into the annular groove in the first mentioned body, the annular grooves in both bodies being uniform in depth to define wholly closed annular chambers when the bodies are assembled, a contact prong carried by the first mentioned body and extending into the annular groove therein adjacent the outer wall thereof, a group of peripherally spaced clips carried by the first mentioned body and extending into the groove therein adjacent the outer wall thereof, said prong and said clips being bowed longitudinally with their concave sides disposed toward the adjacent side wall of the groove. a second contact prong carried by the first mentioned body and extending into the recess therein adjacent a side wall thereof, a second group of peripherally spaced clips carried by the first mentioned body and projecting into the recess therein adjacent the peripheral wall thereof, said prong and said clips being bowed longitudinally and having their concave sides disposed adjacent the peripheral wall of the recess, a contact ring carried by the second mentioned body and extending around the boss thereof for entrance with said boss into the recess and for contact with the prong and clips therein, a second contact ring carried by the second mentioned body and extending around the annular groove therein adjacent the flange for entrance therewith into the annular groove in the first mentioned body and engagement with the prong and clips in the annular groove in the first mentioned body, and the rings being concavo-convex in cross section to releasably engage the prongs and clips to thereby maintain themselves in contact with said prongs and clips and the bodies together.

JOHN ZALDUONDO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 437,789 Nichols Oct. '7, 1890 1,800,698 Nielson Apr. 14, 1931 2,118,562 Kunkle May 24, 1938 2,466,499 Sokolik Apr. 5, 1949 

